All Classes & Events
Everyone Welcome | All Skill Levels | Bring Your Tools
In addition to formal classes, at least once a month the pruning club meets for a volunteer opportunity. At these events you will get the chance to work on material in the landscape and receive pointers and tips on pruning techniques from experienced pruners. Please be sure to contact the appropriate contact person for the event you plan to attend.
NOTE: All events are subject to change due to conditions having to do with the Coronavirus pandemic. Call the listed contact person prior to the event to sign up and find out the details and potential attendance limitations at that particular event. All activities will be subject to all the precautions required, such as masks and social distancing.

Lake Merritt Japanese Garden (First Friday Maintenance Day)
Contact: Bill Castellon, 510-910-5935, billcastellon@aol.com

Breakfast Club (3rd Fridays)
Contact: Leslie Buck, 510-295-7006; Malcolm Scotchler, hortnick1@gmail.com, 510-289-5127
Connect with fellow pruners to talk shop and get to know each other!

Lake Merritt Japanese Garden (First Friday Maintenance Day)
Contact: Bill Castellon, 510-910-5935, billcastellon@aol.com

Breakfast Club (3rd Fridays)
Contact: Leslie Buck, 510-295-7006; Malcolm Scotchler, hortnick1@gmail.com, 510-289-5127
Connect with fellow pruners to talk shop and get to know each other!

Green Gulch Farm Zen Center
Contact: Malcolm Scotchler, 510-289 5127; or Evelyn Borchert, artisticpruning@gmail.com

Lake Merritt Japanese Garden (First Friday Maintenance Day)
Contact: Bill Castellon, 510-910-5935, billcastellon@aol.com

Pruning for the Big Picture
Pruning for the Big Picture - LH815
Instructor: Lara Miranda
In-depth study of pruning for the big picture: general and detail pruning, depth of field, height and width, direction, relative importance of trees.

The Art of the Focal Point Tree
The Art of the Focal Point Tree - LH812
Instructor: Lara Miranda
In-depth study of the techniques needed to prune the focal point tree: tree form, location, detail pruning and special care.


Breakfast Club (3rd Fridays)
Contact: Leslie Buck, 510-295-7006; Malcolm Scotchler, hortnick1@gmail.com, 510-289-5127
Connect with fellow pruners to talk shop and get to know each other!

Lake Merritt Japanese Garden (Pruning Day)
Contact: Bill Castellon, 510-910-5935, billcastellon@aol.com

Rock Placement in the Landscape
Rock Placement in the Landscape - LH805
Instructor: Bill Castellon
Theory and practice of placing rocks in the landscape. Includes tools and equipment used to place rocks.
6 hours

Lake Merritt Japanese Garden (First Friday Maintenance Day)
Contact: Bill Castellon, 510-910-5935, billcastellon@aol.com

Pruning Japanese Gardens
Pruning Japanese Gardens - LH817
Instructor: Bill Castellon
Basics of pruning plants found in Japanese gardens: pruning specific types of plants, creating moods and feeling through pruning, problem solving.

Lakeside Park - Fukuoka Sister City Garden
Contact: Evelyn Borchert, artisticpruning@gmail.com or Matthew Taylor, taylortreecraft@gmail.com

Pruning Conifers
Pruning Conifers - LH818
Instructor: Grant Foerster
Pruning of ornamental conifers: seasonal pruning, and restoring and styling of conifers.

Northern California Golden State Bonsai Collection Garden
Contact: Bill Castellon, 510-910-5935, billcastellon@aol.com

Breakfast Club (3rd Fridays)
Contact: Leslie Buck, 510-295-7006; Malcolm Scotchler, hortnick1@gmail.com, 510-289-5127
Connect with fellow pruners to talk shop and get to know each other!
Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple Garden
Contact: Dina Blackwell, 510-469-6958, dinablackwell@gmail.com

The Art of Tree and Shrub Reduction
The Art of Tree and Shrub Reduction - LH819
Instructor: Chris Ingram
Pruning techniques needed to reduce large trees and shrubs: proper timing, form reconstruction, and plan of approach.
Buena Vista United Methodist Church, Alameda
Contact: Dina Blackwell, 510-469-6958, dinablackwell@gmail.com


Lake Merritt Japanese Garden (First Friday Maintenance Day)
Contact: Bill Castellon, 510-910-5935, billcastellon@aol.com


Pruning Pines
Pruning Pines - LH811A
Instructor: Lara Miranda
Basic techniques of pruning ornamental pine trees, including styling, design and proper care.

Breakfast Club (3rd Fridays)
Contact: Leslie Buck, 510-295-7006; Malcolm Scotchler, hortnick1@gmail.com, 510-289-5127
Connect with fellow pruners to talk shop and get to know each other!

Pruning Container Trees and Shrubs
Pruning Container Trees and Shrubs - LH816
Instructor: Bill Castellon
In-depth study of pruning container trees and shrubs: detail pruning, miniaturizing, caring, wiring, and positioning.

Lake Merritt Japanese Garden (First Friday Maintenance Day)
Contact: Bill Castellon, 510-910-5935, billcastellon@aol.com

Aesthetic Pruning as a Career
Aesthetic Pruning as a Career - LH823
Instructor: Chris Ingram
Business aspects of aesthetic pruning: customer relations, fee structure, work schedule, equipment and long-term goals.

Hakone Gardens, Saratoga
Contact: Jen Schuessler, 510-693-9627, dryadsdreaming@gmail.com

Breakfast Club (3rd Fridays)
Contact: Leslie Buck, 510-295-7006; Malcolm Scotchler, hortnick1@gmail.com, 510-289-5127
Connect with fellow pruners to talk shop and get to know each other!


Breakfast Club (3rd Fridays)
Contact: Leslie Buck, 510-295-7006; Malcolm Scotchler, hortnick1@gmail.com, 510-289-5127
Connect with fellow pruners to talk shop and get to know each other!

Lake Merritt Japanese Garden (First Friday Maintenance Day)
Contact: Bill Castellon, 510-910-5935, billcastellon@aol.com

Lakeside Park - Fukuoka Sister City Garden
Contact: Evelyn Borchert, artisticpruning@gmail.com or Matthew Taylor, taylortreecreaft@gmail.com
Buena Vista United Methodist Church, Alameda
Contact: Dina Blackwell, 510-469-6958, dinablackwell@gmail.com

Hakone Gardens, Saratoga
Contact: Jen Schuessler, 510-693-9627, dryadsdreaming@gmail.com
Berkeley Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple Garden
Contact: Dina Blackwell, 510-469-6958, dinablackwell@gmail.com

Pruning Pines
Pruning Pines - LH811A
Instructor: Bill Castellon & Lara Miranda
Basic techniques of pruning ornamental pine trees, including styling, design and proper care.

Breakfast Club (3rd Fridays)
Contact: Leslie Buck, 510-295-7006
Connect with fellow pruners to talk shop and get to know each other!

Spring Potluck
Join us for our spring potluck and planning meeting. We will put together our pruning event calendar for the next six months and discuss important club matters. Bring a dish or beverage to share.
Saturday, May 10th from 1-3pm. Merritt College Landscape Horticulture temporary campus, room 105
Contact: Evelyn Borchert, artisticpruning@gmail.com

Pruning Maples
Pruning Maples - LH810
Instructor: Pete Churgel
Study of the techniques needed to prune maple trees: seasonal pruning, proper care, trouble analysis, winter silhouette and form enhancement.

The Art of the Laceleaf Maple
The Art of the Laceleaf Maple - LH891
Instructor: Yuki Nara
Study of the techniques needed to prune laceleaf Japanese maple trees: seasonal pruning, proper care, trouble analysis, winter silhouette and form enhancement.

Lake Merritt Japanese Garden (First Friday Maintenance Day)
Contact: Bill Castellon, 510-910-5935; billcastellon@aol.com
Japanese American Religious and Cultural Center, Concord – Pines
Contact: Lara Miranda, LMPruning@gmail.com

Pruning California Native Trees and Shrubs
Pruning California Native Trees and Shrubs - LH831
Instructor: Jocelyn Cohen
Study of the techniques needed to prune California native trees and shrubs: seasonal pruning, proper care, trouble analysis, winter silhouette and form enhancement.

Lake Merritt Japanese Garden (Pruning Day)
Contact: Bill Castellon, 510-910-5935; billcastellon@aol.com

Breakfast Club (3rd Fridays)
Contact: Leslie Buck, 510-295-7006
Connect with fellow pruners to talk shop and get to know each other!


Pruning Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Pruning Flowering Trees and Shrubs - LH804
Instructor: Jocelyn Cohen
Pruning, styling and care of most of the flowering trees & shrubs found in East Bay gardens: when to prune, selection of tree form and fertilization.


Lake Merritt Japanese Garden (First Friday Maintenance Day)
Contact: Bill Castellon, 510-910-5935; billcastellon@aol.com

Finding the Essence of a Tree
Finding the Essence of a Tree - LH803
Instructor: Pete Churgel
Identification of different tree forms such as slant, formal upright, windswept and clump. Pruning techniques for these various forms.

Pruning Deciduous Trees and Shrubs
Pruning Deciduous Trees and Shrubs - LH801
Instructor: Chris Ingram
Study of the art of pruning deciduous trees: dormant pruning of trees, pruning containerized trees and shrubs, techniques to improve winter silhouette.

Breakfast Club (3rd Fridays)
Contact: Leslie Buck, 510-295-7006
Connect with fellow pruners to talk shop and get to know each other!

Pruning
Pruning - LH26
Instructor: Pete Churgel and Lara Miranda
Basic pruning techniques: emphasis on pruning landscape plants, appreciation of good pruning of trees, shrubs, conifers, roses, berries, grapes. Intensive 2-day class, required for most certificates.
*NOTE: You must be enrolled as a current and active student in the Peralta Colleges system to take this class.

Northern California Golden State Bonsai Collection Garden
Contact: Bill Castellon, 510-910-5935; billcastellon@aol.com

Pruning
Pruning - LH26
Instructor: Pete Churgel and Lara Miranda
Basic pruning techniques: emphasis on pruning landscape plants, appreciation of good pruning of trees, shrubs, conifers, roses, berries, grapes. Intensive 2-day class, required for most certificates.
*NOTE: You must be enrolled as a current and active student in the Peralta Colleges system to take this class.

Lake Merritt Japanese Garden (First Friday Maintenance Day)
Contact: Bill Castellon, 510-910-5935; billcastellon@aol.com

Introduction to Bonsai
Introduction to Bonsai - LH839
Instructor: Bill Castellon
Bonsai as an art and science: five basic styles, branch placement of trees, scale of proportion, use of wire, pruning, transplanting and care.
Peralta TV
An overview of aesthetic pruning with some of our mentors at a Pruning Club event at the Japanese Garden at Lake Merritt. Filmed in 2009.
All Classes & Events
Here is a complete calendar of all upcoming aesthetic pruning classes and volunteer community events.